CONS Synonyms: 217 Similar and Opposite Words

cons 1 of 4

noun (1)

Definition of cons next

plural of con

as in prisoners

a person convicted as a criminal and serving a prison sentence a program to help ex-cons find employment

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cons

2 of 4

noun (2)

plural of con

as in scams

an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value the explanation was so plausible that I never suspected it was all a con to make off with my car

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cons

3 of 4

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of con

as in studies

to commit to memory usually candidates con their entire campaign speech, right down to the jokes they supposedly ad-lib

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in reviews

to look over closely (as for judging quality or condition) seemed to be conning his face for any sign of uncertainty

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cons

4 of 4

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of con

as in hustles

to rob by the use of trickery or threats a fly-by-night operator who had conned hundreds of would-be homeowners out of their hard-earned money

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as in tricks

to cause to believe what is untrue tried to con me into thinking that he had actually won the lottery

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of cons

Noun

Broward County commissioners on Tuesday unpacked a 53-page report that outlined the pros and cons of the county taking control of policing at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. —

Joan Murray, CBS News, 12 May 2026 There are many cons to dating a succubus. —

Erin La Rosa, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 Participants weighed the pros and cons of, for example, holograms and virtual reality headsets in Holocaust education. —

Toby Axelrod, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026 Natural Weed Control There are cons to using chemical methods to get rid of weeds in your grass, particularly if pets and children frequent your lawn. —

David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 May 2026 Here, a weed control expert weighs the pros and cons of different ways to get rid of poison ivy and shares the most effective way to kill poison ivy effectively and permanently. —

Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 8 May 2026 While the unpredictable nature is a major hurdle, the Dishmans — who travel full-time — insist the pros outweigh the cons. —

Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 7 May 2026 Here are eight of the most popular proposals for closing Social Security’s funding gap, and the pros and cons of each. —

Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 4 May 2026 Tseng suggests women review the pros and cons of each approach with their surgeons. —

Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 1 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cons

Noun

The prisoners quickly became a bargaining chip for Hanoi during the Paris peace talks, which had begun in April 1968.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
Cuba then made an offer to two of their higher profile prisoners, Maykel Castillo Pérez and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara.

— Dana Taylor, USA Today, 14 May 2026